§ 20-2-251 - Demonstration programs
O.C.G.A. 20-2-251 (2010)
20-2-251. Demonstration programs
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) "Demonstration plan" means a document submitted by the local school system or board of control of a regional educational service agency and approved by the State Board of Education which describes: how certain state policies, standards, rules, regulations, and categorical expenditure requirements in practice inhibit the local school's, school system's, or regional educational service agency's delivery of an appropriate and effective educational program; how a suspension of such policies would result in improvement of the educational program; the new demonstration program or activity without such policies; proposed stipulations under which the local school, school system, or regional educational service agency will operate in lieu of those policies that the state board is requested to suspend; goals and objectives of the new demonstration program or activity; an evaluation system to determine if the goals and objectives of the new demonstration program or activity are being attained; and other such items as the state board may deem necessary for an effective demonstration plan.
(2) "Demonstration program" means a local school, school system, or regional educational service agency which is designated by the state board to operate the educational programs or services contained within its demonstration plan in accordance with the said plan.
(b) The State Board of Education shall have the authority and is directed to:
(1) Prescribe criteria, policies, and standards deemed necessary for the effective implementation of this Code section;
(2) Annually designate local schools, school systems, and regional educational service agencies which meet established state board criteria for being designated or continuing their designation as demonstration programs; provided, however, that the Department of Education shall annually review and evaluate the effectiveness of demonstration plans and submit findings and recommendations to the state board;
(3) Suspend other state policies, standards, and regulations for approved demonstration programs to the extent deemed essential for successful implementation of approved demonstration plans. However, such suspension of rules and regulations will apply only to those personnel, programs, regional educational service agencies, and schools actually participating in the approved demonstration program or activity; and
(4) Recommend to the Professional Standards Commission that applicable certification regulations and requirements be suspended.
(c) The State Board of Education is authorized to prescribe the criteria by which schools or school systems or regional educational service agencies receiving funds pursuant to Code Section 20-2-250 may receive demonstration program status.
(d) No demonstration program shall be permitted to continue such designation for more than three fiscal years; provided, however, that a new application for designation as a demonstration program may be submitted to the state board for approval based upon the annual evaluations required by this Code section.
(e) The state board shall have the authority and is encouraged to establish a committee or committees to advise it as to the requirements which demonstration programs must meet, the accountability procedures which must be used, and other matters which the state board deems necessary for the success of demonstration programs.